Three-time Trotting Mare of the Year Buck I St Pat, who retired in 2011, gave birth Thursday morning to her first foal, a filly by 2007 Horse of the Year Donato Hanover.

The foal was born at Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania, where Donato Hanover stands as a stallion.

“I’m excited,” said co-owner Howard Taylor, who owns Buck I St Pat with Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen and Ron Fuller. “I’ve got my weekend plans; I’m going to run over to Hanover and see her.

“My mom (Judy) is passing out cigars.”

Buck I St Pat won 51 of 106 lifetime starts, including two Breeders Crown finals, the Armbro Flight, the Classic Series final, the Conway Hall, the American-National and two Maxie Lee Memorial titles. She earned $2.3 million in purses.

“I haven’t thought of a name yet,” Taylor said. “They said she’s a real good looking filly. Hopefully we have another Buck I.

“Maybe,” he added, “that’s not a bad name.”

This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.